Topic: Incontinence

The cause as well as the severity of incontinence determines its treatment. Some people have a problem that can be corrected with surgery. However, many do not. For those who do not have surgery, medical management is the initial treatment. Revised and updated 2009.

Incontinence is a disorder that affects men and women of all ages, often with devastating personal and societal consequences. It can lead to social isolation, loss of employment, and institutionalization. The economic impact has been estimated at $16 to $26 billion annually in the U.S. Fecal incontinence is estimated to affect 2%-7% of adults while urinary incontinence occurs in a third of adults and is severe enough to interfere with the quality of life and work in 6%. In the IFFGD survey, IBS in the Real World, 25% of respondents with IBS reported loss of bowel control.

Treatment of fecal incontinence depends on the cause and severity; it may include dietary changes, medication, bowel training, or surgery. More than one treatment may be necessary for successful control since continence is a complicated chain of events. Revised and updated by IFFGD, 2013.

From a presentation at a symposium on Treatment of Bowel, Bladder, and Pelvic Floor Disorders. Bowel or bladder incontinence is a 24 hour, seven day a week challenge. One never escapes it, for many it is even in our dreams. A personal account from the Founder of IFFGD.

In this article, I will try to provide a flavor for our research activities and highlight what we understand about the mechanisms of fecal incontinence and constipation. Fecal incontinence is a relatively common symptom. In listening to patients, I realized that fecal incontinence could have a devastating impact on lifestyle, that our understanding of factors responsible for incontinence was limited, and that available therapies were of variable efficacy. Therefore, our studies are directed toward answering several important questions pertaining to "idiopathic" fecal incontinence, that is fecal incontinence not resulting from another underlying disease such as multiple sclerosis.

Most people feel uneasy talking about their stool, intestinal gas, or bowel movements. But doctors understand that these are very normal and necessary processes in all of us. Doctors and other therapists are there to help when bodily processes go wrong. So the first very important step is to talk plainly about the problems you are experiencing.

Experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, urgency, incontinence, and rectal bleeding can be a significant source of stress that calls for consultation with a physician. Those individuals with a history of prior radiation therapy exposure need to disclose this to their doctor. Radiation induced symptoms must be considered as a potential source.